搜索结果: 'methocult media formulations for human hematopoietic cells serum containing'

AIM Bevacizumab has been reported to result in increased tumor invasion when used to treat malignant glioma. We hypothesized that BMP4 would prevent diffuse tumor infiltration induced by bevacizumab for malignant glioma in a xenograft model. METHODS Human glioblastoma (GBM) tumor cells were implanted in the striatum of immunocompromised mice. The animals were treated with bevacizumab and BMP4. Tumor growth and invasion were measured. RESULTS The bevacizumab-treated mice had increased survival compared with control animals (p = 0.02). BMP4 alone did not result in improved survival (p = 1.0). The bevacizumab (p = 0.006) and bevacizumab plus BMP4 (p = 0.006) groups demonstrated significantly decreased total tumor size compared with control. Tumor invasion was significantly decreased in the bevacizumab (p = 0.005),BMP4 (p = 0.04) alone and bevacizumab plus BMP4 (p = 0.002) groups compared with control. No synergistic effect between bevacizumab and BMP4 was observed. CONCLUSION Bevacizumab treatment did not result in diffuse infiltration of human GBM in a mouse xenograft model. BMP4 did have an independent favorable effect on GBM that was not synergistic with bevacizumab treatment. View Publication

OBJECTIVE: Ionizing radiation (IR) and busulfan (BU) are commonly used as preconditioning regimens for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We examined whether induction of apoptosis in murine bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic cells contributes to IR- and BU-induced suppression of their hematopoietic function. METHODS: The hematopoietic functions of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitors were analyzed by the cobblestone area-forming cell (CAFC) assay. Apoptosis was determined by measuring 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiCO6) uptake,annexin V staining,and/or sub-G(0/1) cells. Four cell types were studied: murine BM mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs),linage-negative hematopoietic cells (Lin-) cells),Lin- Scal+ c-kit+ cells,and Lin- Scal- c-kit+ cells by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Exposure of BM-MNCs to IR (4 Gy) or incubation of the cells with BU (30 microM) resulted in a significant reduction in CAFC frequency (ptextless0.001). The survival fractions of various day-types of CAFC for the irradiated cells were less than 10%,while that for BU-treated cells was 71.3% on day 7 and progressively declined to 5.3% on day 35. Interestingly,IR significantly induced apoptosis in BM-MNCs,Lin- cells,HSCs,and progenitors,whereas BU failed to increase apoptosis in these cells. In addition,preincubation of BM-MNCs with z-Val-Ala-Asp (OCH3)-fluoromethylketone,methyl ester (z-VAD) attenuated IR-induced reduction in CAFC but not that induced by BU. CONCLUSION: IR and BU differentially suppress the hematopoietic function of HSCs and progenitors by fundamentally different mechanisms. IR inhibits the function primarily by the induction of HSC and progenitor apoptosis. In contrast,BU suppresses HSC and progenitor function via an apoptosis-independent mechanism. View Publication

The ability of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to undergo self-renewal is partly regulated by external signals originating from the stem cell niche. Our previous studies with HSCs obtained from fetal liver of mice deficient for the calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) have shown the crucial role of this receptor in HSC lodgment and engraftment in the bone marrow (BM) endosteal niche. Using a CaR agonist,Cinacalcet,we assessed the effects of stimulating the CaR on the function of murine HSCs. Our results show that CaR stimulation increases primitive hematopoietic cell activity in vitro,including growth in stromal cell cocultures,adhesion to extracellular matrix molecules such as collagen I and fibronectin,and migration toward the chemotactic stimulus,stromal cell-derived factor 1α. Receptor stimulation also led to augmented in vivo homing,CXCR4-mediated lodgment at the endosteal niche,and engraftment capabilities. These mechanisms by which stimulating the CaR dictates preferential localization of HSCs in the BM endosteal niche provide additional insights into the fundamental interrelationship between the stem cell and its niche. These studies also have implications in the area of clinical stem cell transplantation,where ex vivo modulation of the CaR may be envisioned as a strategy to enhance HSC engraftment in the BM. View Publication

Because of recent declining malaria transmission in Latin America,some authorities have recommended against chemoprophylaxis for most travelers to this region. However,the predominant parasite species in Latin America,Plasmodium vivax,can form hypnozoites sequestered in the liver,causing malaria relapses. Additionally,new evidence shows the potential severity of vivax infections,warranting continued consideration of prophylaxis for travel to Latin America. Individualized travel risk assessments are recommended and should consider travel locations,type,length,and season,as well as probability of itinerary changes. Travel recommendations might include no precautions,mosquito avoidance only,or mosquito avoidance and chemoprophylaxis. There are a range of good options for chemoprophylaxis in Latin America,including atovaquone-proguanil,doxycycline,mefloquine,and--in selected areas--chloroquine. Primaquine should be strongly considered for nonpregnant,G6PD-nondeficient patients traveling to vivax-endemic areas of Latin America,and it has the added benefit of being the only drug to protect against malaria relapses. View Publication

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is advantageous over conventional technologies for the fabrication of sophisticated structures such as 3D micro-channels for future applications in tissue engineering and drug screening. We aimed to apply this technology to cell-based assays using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS),the most commonly used material for fabrication of micro-channels used for cell culture experiments. Useful properties of PDMS include biocompatibility,gas permeability and transparency. We developed a simple and robust protocol to generate PDMS-based devices using a soft lithography mold produced by 3D printing. 3D chemical gradients were then generated to stimulate cells confined to a micro-channel. We demonstrate that concentration gradients of growth factors,important regulators of cell/tissue functions in vivo,influence the survival and growth of human embryonic stem cells. Thus,this approach for generation of 3D concentration gradients could have strong implications for tissue engineering and drug screening. View Publication

A defect in cell trafficking and chemotaxis plays an important role in the immune deficiency observed in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS). In this report,we show that marrow cells from WAS protein (WASP)-deficient mice also have a defect in chemotaxis. Serial transplantation and competitive reconstitution experiments demonstrated that marrow cells,including hematopoietic progenitors and stem cells (HSCs),have decreased homing capacities that were associated with a defect in adhesion to collagen. During development,HSCs migrate from the liver to the marrow and the spleen,prompting us to ask if a defect in HSC homing during development may explain the skewed X-chromosome inactivation in WAS carriers. Preliminary evidence has shown that,in contrast to marrow progenitor cells,fetal liver progenitor cells from heterozygous females had a random X-chromosome inactivation. When fetal liver cells from WASP-carrier females were injected into irradiated recipients,a nonrandom inactivation of the X-chromosome was found at the level of hematopoietic progenitors and HSCs responsible for the short- and long-term hematopoietic reconstitution. Therefore,the mechanism of the skewed X-chromosomal inactivation observed in WAS carriers may be related to a migration defect of WASP-deficient HSCs. View Publication

Intracellular delivery of macromolecules is a challenge in research and therapeutic applications. Existing vector-based and physical methods have limitations,including their reliance on exogenous materials or electrical fields,which can lead to toxicity or off-target effects. We describe a microfluidic approach to delivery in which cells are mechanically deformed as they pass through a constriction 30–80% smaller than the cell diameter. The resulting controlled application of compression and shear forces results in the formation of transient holes that enable the diffusion of material from the surrounding buffer into the cytosol. The method has demonstrated the ability to deliver a range of material,such as carbon nanotubes,proteins,and siRNA,to 11 cell types,including embryonic stem cells and immune cells. When used for the delivery of transcription factors,the microfluidic devices produced a 10-fold improvement in colony formation relative to electroporation and cell-penetrating peptides. Indeed,its ability to deliver structurally diverse materials and its applicability to difficult-to-transfect primary cells indicate that this method could potentially enable many research and clinical applications. View Publication

Mature erythrocytes are known to lack major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins. However,the presence of MHC molecules on erythrocytes has been occasionally reported,though without a defined function. In this study,we designed erythrocyte conjugated solely with a fusion protein consisting of an antigenic peptide linked to MHC class I (MHC-I) protein,termed MHC-I‒Ery. The modified erythrocyte,decorated with the peptide derived from human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 oncoprotein E6/E7,effectively activated antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HPV16+ cervical cancer patients. Additionally,MHC-I‒Ery monotherapy was shown to inhibit antigen-positive tumor growth in mice. This treatment immediately activated CD8+ T cells and reduced suppressive myeloid cells in the spleen,leading to systemic anti-tumor activity. Safety and tolerability evaluations of MHC-I‒Ery in non-human primates further supported its clinical potential. Our results first demonstrated that erythrocytes equipped solely with antigen peptide‒MHC-I complexes can robustly stimulate the immune system,suggesting a novel and promising approach for advancing cancer immunotherapy. View Publication

Tristetraprolin (TTP,Zfp36,Nup475,Tis11) dramatically reduces the stability of target mRNAs by binding to AU-rich elements in their 3' untranslated regions. Through this mechanism,TTP functions as a rheostatic,temporal regulator of gene expression. TTP knockout (KO) mice exhibit completely penetrant granulocytic hyperplasia. We have shown that the hematopoietic stem-progenitor cell compartment in TTP KO mice is also altered. Although no change was detected in long-term hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) frequency or function,as assayed by immunophenotypic markers or limiting dilution transplants,we observed increases in the frequencies and numbers of short-term HSCs,multipotent progenitors,and granulocyte-monocyte progenitors. This pattern is consistent with reactive granulopoiesis� View Publication

CD154 (CD40 ligand) expression on CD4 T cells is normally tightly controlled,but abnormal or dysregulated expression of CD154 has been well documented in autoimmune diseases,such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Beyond regulation by NFAT proteins,little is known about the transcriptional activation of the CD154 promoter. We identified a species-conserved purine-rich sequence located adjacent to the CD154 transcriptional promoter proximal NFAT site,which binds early growth response (Egr) transcription factors. Gel shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays reveal that Egr-1,Egr-3,and NFAT1 present in primary human CD4 T cells are capable of binding this combinatorial site in vitro and in vivo,respectively. Multimerization of this NFAT/Egr sequence in the context of a reporter gene demonstrates this sequence is transcriptionally active upon T cell activation in primary human CD4 T cells. Overexpression of Egr-1,but not Egr-3,is capable of augmenting transcription of this reporter gene as well as that of an intact CD154 promoter. Conversely,overexpression of small interfering RNA specific for Egr-1 in primary human CD4 T cells inhibits CD154 expression. Similarly,upon activation,CD154 message is notably decreased in splenic CD4 T cells from Egr-1-deficient mice compared with wild-type controls. Our data demonstrate that Egr-1 is required for CD154 transcription in primary CD4 T cells. This has implications for selective targeting of Egr family members to control abnormal expression of CD154 in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. View Publication

Cancer-associated IDH mutations are characterized by neomorphic enzyme activity and resultant 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) production. Mutational and epigenetic profiling of a large acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient cohort revealed that IDH1/2-mutant AMLs display global DNA hypermethylation and a specific hypermethylation signature. Furthermore,expression of 2HG-producing IDH alleles in cells induced global DNA hypermethylation. In the AML cohort,IDH1/2 mutations were mutually exclusive with mutations in the α-ketoglutarate-dependent enzyme TET2,and TET2 loss-of-function mutations were associated with similar epigenetic defects as IDH1/2 mutants. Consistent with these genetic and epigenetic data,expression of IDH mutants impaired TET2 catalytic function in cells. Finally,either expression of mutant IDH1/2 or Tet2 depletion impaired hematopoietic differentiation and increased stem/progenitor cell marker expression,suggesting a shared proleukemogenic effect. View Publication

OVERVIEW: All current antipsychotic medications work by binding to Gi-coupled dopamine (DA) D2 receptors. Such medications are thought to affect cellular function primarily by decreasing DA-mediated regulation of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP).However,several studies indicate that cAMP signal transduction abnormalities in schizophrenia may not be limited to D2-containing cells. The current study examines the potential of using non-receptor-based agents that modify intracellular signal transduction as potential antipsychotic medications. METHODS: The indirect DA agonist amphetamine has been used to model the auditory sensory processing deficits in schizophrenia. Such pharmacologically induced abnormalities are reversed by current antipsychotic treatments. This study examines the ability of the phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor,rolipram,to reverse amphetamine-induced abnormalities in auditory-evoked potentials that are characteristic of schizophrenia. RESULTS: Rolipram reverses amphetamine-induced reductions in auditory-evoked potentials. CONCLUSION: This finding could lead to novel approaches to receptor-independent treatments for schizophrenia. View Publication